[Effect of probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii on prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in adult outpatients with amoxicillin treatment].
BACKGROUND
Antibiotic-associated diarrhea is one of the most common adverse effects of antimicrobials. Any antimicrobial can potentially produce diarrhea but beta-lactamics have a higher risk. Among these, amoxicillin is widely indicated in ambulatory practice. One of the alternatives suggested to prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhea, is the use of the probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether the concomitant use of Saccharomyces boulardii and amoxicillin can prevent antibiotic associated diarrhea in ambulatory adults with acute infections diseases, without provoking other adverse effects.


METHODS
Eighty six adults (aged 15 to 81 years) with acute infectious diseases, excluding those arising in the gastrointestinal tract, that received a prescription of oral amoxicillin for 5 to 10 days, were included. In a controlled randomized, double blind trial, 41 patients were assigned to receive lyophilized Saccharomyces boulardii (500 mg/day) during 12 days, and 45 patients were assigned to placebo for the same period.


RESULTS
Ten percent of patients (9/86) reported acute diarrhea, 9,8% (4/41) in the experimental group and 11.196 (5/45) in the control group (p = 100). No adverse effects were associated to the use of the probiotic.


CONCLUSIONS
Saccharomyces boulardii (500 mg/day) did not prevent diarrhea related to amoxicillin.
Bravo
María Verónica
MV
Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile. vbravol@vtr.net
Bunout
Daniel
D
Leiva
Laura
L
de la Maza
María Pía
MP
Barrera
Gladys
G
de la Maza
Javier
J
Hirsch
Sandra
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D010919:Placebos; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012440:Saccharomyces; D015002:Yeast, Dried; D055815:Young Adult
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010919:Placebos; D000658:Amoxicillin